Unusual features of pomoviral RNA movement

This work is partially supported by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) DivisionPotato mop-top pomovirus (PMTV) is one of a few viruses that can move systemically in plants in the absence of the capsid protein (CP). Pomoviruses encode the triple gene block genetic module of movement proteins (TGB 1, 2, and 3) and recent research suggests that PMTV RNA is transported either as ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes containing TGB1 or encapsidated in virions containing TGB1. Furthermore, there are different requirements for local or systemic (long-distance) movement. Research suggests that nucleolar passage of TGB1 may be important for the long-distance movement of both RNP and virions. Moreover, and uniquely, the long-distance movement of the CP-encoding RNA requires expression of both major and minor CP subunits and is inhibited when only the major CP sub unit is expressed. This paper reviews pomovirus research and presents a current model for RNA movement.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Phrasing Feedback to Improve Students\u27 Writing in a Large First-Year Humanities Course

On a revise-and-resubmit assignment in a large introductory History course, students were provided with feedback that was phrased either as questions, statements, or imperatives. This study examines which form was most likely to lead to improvement in the students’ writing. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze a data set comprising 669 individual pieces of feedback on 67 sets of papers. Researchers found that, overall, students were most likely to implement feedback phrased as imperatives and least likely to implement feedback phrased as questions, and that the likelihood shifted somewhat depending on which aspect of writing was being commented upon; the extent of change required; the students’ past performance in the course; and the person providing the feedback

An Anatomical and Pathological Examination of the First Recorded Stranding of a Fraser\u27s Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Reports on Fraser\u27s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) strandings in the Gulf of Mexico are uncommon. The only recorded strandings from the Gulf of Mexico, both of which occurred in Florida, consist of one mass stranding and a single stranding. This report represents the first record of a Fraser\u27s dolphin stranding, dead or alive, in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, Results presented here provide the first available data on blood hematology and chemistry values, detailed anatomy of internal organs and structures, thoracic and abdominal organ weights, blubber thickness, external morphometries, and pathological findings for this species in the western Gulf of Mexico

Treatment of lean and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice with a novel stable obestatin analogue alters plasma metabolite levels as detected by untargeted LC–MS metabolomics

INTRODUCTION: Obestatin is a controversial gastrointestinal peptide purported to have metabolic actions. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether treatment with a stable obestatin analogue (PEG-OB(Cys(10), Cys(13))) changed plasma metabolite levels firstly in lean and subsequently in diet-induced obesity (DIO) C57BL6/J mice. METHODS: Untargeted LC-HRMS metabolomics experiments were carried out in ESI + mode with plasma extracts from both groups of animals. Data were normalised, multivariate and univariate statistical analysis performed and metabolites of interest putatively identified. RESULTS: In lean mice, 39 metabolites were significantly changed by obestatin treatment and the majority of these were increased, including various C16 and C18 moieties of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and monoacylglycerol, along with vitamin A, vitamin D3, tyrosine, acetylcarnitine and 2α-(hydroxymethyl)-5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol. Decreased concentrations of glycolithocholic acid, 3-dehydroteasterone and various phospholipids were observed. In DIO mice, 25 metabolites were significantly affected and strikingly, the magnitudes of changes here were generally much greater in DIO mice than in lean mice, and in contrast, the majority of metabolite changes were decreases. Four metabolites affected in both groups included glycolithocholic acid, and three different long-chain (C18) phospholipid molecules (phosphatidylethanolamine, platelet activating factor (PAF), and monoacylglycerol). Metabolites exclusively affected in DIO mice included various phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines and fatty acyls, as well as creatine and oxidised glutathione. CONCLUSION: This investigation demonstrates that obestatin treatment affects phospholipid turnover and influences lipid homeostasis, whilst providing convincing evidence that obestatin may be acting to ameliorate diet-induced impairments in lipid metabolism, and it may influence steroid, bile acid, PAF and glutathione metabolism. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11306-016-1063-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Otolith Microchemical Fingerprints of Age-0 Red Snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, from the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) are believed to constitute a single stock. However, tagging and genetics studies suggest there is little mixing between populations of red snapper in the northern Gulf, and little is known about mixing rates of adult fish. The long-term goal of our work is to determine if age-0 red snapper from different nursery areas have unique microchemical fingerprints in their sagittal otoliths, and if so, can the microchemical fingerprints at the core of adult otoliths be used to determine retrospectively nursery area of origin. Ultimately, we hope to use the microchemical fingerprints at the core of adult snapper otoliths to estimate adults\u27 mixing rates and movement patterns. In this study, the objective was to determine if age-0 red snapper collected from different northern Gulf nursery areas in summer and fall 1995 did contain unique microchemical fingerprints. Sagittal otoliths of age-0 red snapper collected off the coasts of Alabama/Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Twelve elements in the sagittae of age-0 snapper were analyzed with ICP-AES. Of these, eight were put into a stepwise discriminant function analysis with the best-fitted model including Mg, Se, As, Fe, and AI, entered in that order (MANOVA, P \u3c 0.001). Cross-validated classification accuracies were 92% for Texas fish, 91% for Louisiana fish, and 92% for Alabama/Mississippi fish. Therefore, it appears that otolith microchemistry can be used to infer nursery area of age-0 red snapper. Future work will focus on (1) establishing the temporal stability of age-0 red snapper otolith microchemical fingerprints and (2) inclusion of analyses of age-structured samples from adult red snapper otolith cores to estimate their nursery area of origin and mixing rates

Robotic system for the servicing of the orbiter thermal protection system

This paper describes the design and development of a mobile robotic system to process orbiter thermal protection system (TPS) tiles. This work was justified by a TPS automation study which identified tile rewaterproofing and visual inspection as excellent applications for robotic automation

What do we know about the intersection of being blind and being Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand? Taking an applied community psychology approach to a systematic review of the published literature

Self-determination and dignity are guaranteed rights for disabled persons under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, such rights have been slow to eventuate for Maori (Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand). This paper brings together systematic fashion publications that currently exist regarding blindness and Maori, centring throughout Maori understandings of disability and blindness. We employed a structured approach alongside PRISMA protocols and reflexive dialogue. Included publications were quantitative data reviews, surveys, qualitative studies, literature reviews, and works of fiction. For our analysis, we formulated a matrix that drew from Kaupapa Maori, applied community psychology, and disability rights literature. This meant we made explicit where research practices included—and excluded—self-determination, democratic participation, and inclusion of both disabled and Maori. Our review highlights inconsistency across disciplines regarding self-determination and democratic participation by both Maori and disabled key stakeholders. Our approach can be utilised across disciplines as a tool for considering the ways in which researchers uphold Indigenous self-determination, disability rights, and data sovereignty. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement

“Seeing” Kāpō Māori: Making visible the experiences of Kāpō Māori during and after COVID-19

A scoping project focused on the intersection of Māori and the framing of vision impairments (disability) within the context of a pandemic response (in this instance COVID-19). Specifically, we were interested in the experiences of kāpō Māori during and post COVID-19 in order to centre the cultural and health needs of kāpō Māori in a culturally responsive manner. We highlight the aspirations that kāpō Māori have for themselves and their whānau, and to identify the facilitators and barriers that kāpō Māori and their whānau face in achieving thes

How information literate are they? : a SAILS study of (mostly) first-year students at the U of L

[No abstract available